Canadians hold mixed attitudes to immigration: poll

New research reveals that Canadians hold a mixed view of immigration, with attitudes influenced depending on age and location.

A survey of more than 1,000 Canadians, carried out by Research.Co, revealed that 46 per cent of respondents agreed that immigration is having a ‘mostly positive effect’ while 36 per cent believe it is having a mostly negative effect.

Residents of Quebec were among the most positive regarding immigration, with 52 per cent of respondents from the French speaking province believing it has had a positive effect. However, in Alberta 42 per cent pf respondents felt it has had a negative effect.

Over the next three years, Canada had pledged to welcome one million immigrants to the country, but it would appear support for this initiative is not widespread, with 40 per cent of those polled stating that they would like to see a decrease in the number of newcomers each year.

How Canadians feel about immigration appears to be based on their age, said Mario Canseco, president of Research Co.

Fifty-five per cent of respondents aged between 18 to 34 felt positively about immigration, he said. The same was felt by 46 per cent of those aged 55 and older.

However, that proportion drops to 39 per cent among respondents aged between 35 to 54 years old.

This age group was also the most likely to call for fewer legal immigrants being admitted to Canada, at roughly 40 per cent, and the least likely to believe an increase is warranted (15 per cent).

The research also found that half of all respondents believe immigrants should only be allowed in Canada if they adopt Canadian values. That proportion rises the most among Albertans, to 61 per cent.